GRANTHAM, Pa. --- Elizabethtown fell 70-64 on the road to Messiah College in the Commonwealth Conference opener for both teams Wednesday night. The visiting Blue Jays dropped to 3-2 overall with the loss, while Messiah improved to 3-2 overall.

Messiah held a 35-30 lead at halftime and shot 22-for-41 (53.7%) from the field for the game. Etown shot 23-for-53 (43.4%) from the field, and Messiah out-rebounded Elizabethtown 35-24. Elizabethtown did hold a 13-9 advantage in steals, and Etown turned the ball over 14 times against 27 turnovers for Messiah.

Greg Brizek (Sinking Spring, PA/Conrad Weiser) led Elizabethtown in scoring with 12 points. Luke Ledyard (Frederick, MD/Gov. Thomas Johnson) scored 10 points for Etown and led the Blue Jays in rebounds with four, in assists with five, and in steals with four. Chad Piersol (Elverson, PA/Owen J. Roberts) added 10 points for Elizabethtown on 5-for-8 shooting from the field.

Steve King was Messiah’s leading scorer with 15 points, and Jared Yoder added 12 points for Messiah. Matt Henninger scored 11 points for the Falcons and led all players in rebounds with nine, and Zach Wiernicki scored 11 points as well for Messiah.

Elizabethtown will return to action on the road Saturday, December 3 against defending Commonwealth champion Albright College in an 8:00 p.m. conference game.